Improvement in umbrellas



@uitrit gisten -atmt @frn CHARLES C. BUELL, OF STAMFCRD, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 67,162, dated July 30, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN UMBRELLAS.

@in .Stimuli rrfemh tu in Ilicseettns zitnit mit nutingpnrt nt `tigesimu.

TO ALL WHOM I'l MAY CON CERN:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES O. BUELL, of Stuxnfo'rtkin -the county ofFairfield, in thc State of Connecticut, have invented a new und usel'ulImprovement in Umbrellas and Para-sols; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying'drawing forming partof this specification,in which drawinge I Figure 1 is un axial section of the runner of anumbrella, in which my improvement is seen.

Figure .ji is a top or end view of the runner.

Figure 3 is an axial section of the runner, to show how the washer canbe held without a nut.

Figure l is an axial section ofthe crown-piece of an umbrella,in whichmy improvement is likewise shown.

Figure 5 is a. top view thereof. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Y l

This invention relates to umbrellas, parasols, sun-shades, and otherarticles of similar character.

The letter A, iig. l., designates the runner of'an umbrella, surroundednear its upper end bya flange, B, that is cast on or otherwise iirmlyfixed to said ruimer. The upper face of said flange is provided withagroove, C, near to and concentric with the circumference or outer edgeof the flange, the outer edge ofthe flange being notched at equaldistances apart by radial notches, D, which intersect or cross saidgroove, said notches being as numerous as the stretchers E, which theyare intended to receive. F is a ring, which goes laterally through thelower ends of the stretchers, and after the stretchers are placedthereon, at the proper distances apart to 'coincidewith the positionsofthe notches, the ring is laid in said groove C, the stretchers takingtheir places in their appropriate notches. I then cover the ring with awasher or annular plate, G, of about the same size as the flange B, saidwasher having on its under side agroove that coincides with and comesdirectly over the groove of said flange, its outer edge having notchesthat coincide in number and position with the notches of said flange.The depth ofthe grooves, taken together, is about equal to the diameterof the ring, so that the latter is enclosed and held securely betweenthe gauge andthe washer, whose faces come in contact, or nearly so. Thewasher is held down by means-of a nut, H, (see iig.1,) screwed upon theupper end of the runner, which projects far enough beyond the flange andthe washer for that purpose, and has a screw-thread cut on it to allowthe nut to be secured thereto. lThe washer can be secured to the Harigein any other convenient manner, as, forexample, by bending over uponsaid washer the upper end or portions or divisions of the upper end ofthe runner, or by keying said washer to the runner; and asthese methodsare ordinary expedients, familiarto skillful mechanics,

it is not necessary to give any further explanation thereof. This modeof making the runner, and of securing the ring and the stretchersthereto, givesincreased strength to those parts of an umbrella, lcssensthe liability of injury to the ring or wire which goes through the eyesof the stretchers, 'and facilitates the repair of the ring or itsremoval when broken. It also improves the appearance of the runner. AIapply the same principle of construction in making the crown-piece,which receives the upper ends of the ribs of an umbrella or othersimilar article. This is shown in figs. 4 and 5. The letter I designatesthe ange of the c1'own-piece,whicl1is suit.- ably secured to the upperpart of the stick of an umbrella. The upper face of the iange I has agroove concentric with and near to its circumference or outer edge, andits outer edge is notched to receive the ribs, which are placed atsuitable distances apart upon a ring er wire that is laid in saidgroove. A washer, J, whose outer edge is notched, and its under sidegrooved, to correspond respectively to the notches and groove of thesaid Bange of the crown-piece, is laid upon the flange in such a way asto cover and enclose the said ring or wire, and to bring its notches incoincidence with the notches ofthe flange I, the construction andarrangementbeing similar to that employed in making the runner and inattaching the stretchcrs thereto. The cylindrical part K ofthecrown-piece can extend far enough above the washer Jto enable anut to beapplied, as in the case ofthe runner shown in fig. 1, or to enable theedge of the part Kto be turned down on said washer (after the manner ofriveting Work together) according to the modification shown in iig. 3,as well as in iig. 4, where the part K is Seen as it appears before itis turned down or riveted upon the washer. The flanges and washers canbe arranged in reverse order if desired, when the nut will be placedbelow the washer and flange. It4 is obvious that my improvement may beapplied alike to the crown-piece or runner without departing from theinvention.

I um aware hat runners of umbrellas have been madeA of two tubes,'arranged for the reception of the stretchers und ribs, and for thereception of the holding parts of the stretchers or ribs, as in thepatent of F. V. Noetre, dated August 9, 1864. This I do not claim; butwhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Potent, is- IThe combination, with the flange of the runner or crown-piece of anumbrella, of a. washer, lso arranged as to enclose bebwceil lsaidflange-1nd wnshormhe rings or wires that hold the folding parts of thestructure, substantially as described.' v

CHARLES O. BUELL.

Witnesscsi T. J. GADLAM, EDWD. T. W. GILLESPIE.

